Teams Fired Up for Apprentice Challenge

Wenta, the Enterprise Agency for Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire have recently been involved in a community enterprise event featuring Katie Hopkins, of TV’s The Apprentice fame.  The two-day event imitates the popular television series, The Apprentice, and requires teams to make best use of and develop a major building in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire. 

Up until last year, Wenta principally operated in the South West Hertfordshire area. However in the last year having expanded their services into Bedfordshire, they have since built a strong reputation as a key business support provider within the Eastern region.  Consequently the agency was approached to take part in this event to support social enterprises.

Teams of participants had to undertake 6 tasks, including putting together cash flow forecasts and organising promotion via leaflets, press and radio.   Expert advisors were on hand to assist with these tasks and Wenta’s Business Advisory Services Manager for Bedfordshire, Mick Dobson and Head of Property Services, Spencer Tagg were counsellors at the event to offer business advice to the various teams. 

The event was structured so that the teams’ resources and timeslots meant they could not access all the advisors available, thus having to make difficult choices about the advice sought.  The teams then faced the gruelling task of presenting to a panel of experts, chaired by the ‘Sir Alan Sugar type’ figure, Katie Hopkins.  The winners received the prize of a laptop computer.

Commenting on the event, Wenta’s Mick Dobson, says “It’s great to see that social enterprises, historically more community rather than business minded are now becoming commercially aware in their efforts to achieve funding to maintain their services.  We were pleased to be invited to take part in this event which was undoubtedly a worthwhile exercise for all involved”.

The event was sponsored by the East of England Development Agency (EEDA) and supported by other local community organisations, including Wenta, Investing in Communities (IiC) and The Prince’s Trust.

Wenta encourage enterprise within the local community and offer business advice and training for start-up, new and existing businesses.  To book an appointment with a business advisor, contact Wenta on 0845 371 0891 or email admin@wenta.co.uk.  

As featured in the Hertfordshire Business Monthly - April Issue

Welcome to Wenta's new look website.

After months of preparation the site is finally ready.  Please take your time to browse the site and let us know what you think by emailing marketing@wenta.co.uk

Here are just a few of the sites new facilities:

• Recent Newsletters from our Advisory, Education  and Business Centre Teams
• Up-to-date Availability for our Offices and Workshops
• Details of our Current Training Programmes
• Useful Website Links for Start-up, New and Existing Small Businesses

Plus coming soon ..... a Client Support Area for our Advisory Service and Business Centre Clients.  This new facility will contain:

• Business Information Factsheets
• Up-to-date Small Business Legislation Bulletins
• Details of Local Networking Groups
• Local Media Lists

If you prefer a more traditional alternative to the internet for researching our services, you can of course request our brochure by completing our Brochure Request Form.

Step up to a great opportunity?

Does your business have a project that you’ve been meaning to do, but don’t have the time or resources to undertake it? Wenta could have the solution…

Shell Step is a programme that matches university students with employers from small and medium sized businesses, to benefit from a dynamic work experience. Under the programme, organisations identify a unique project to complete. In recent years, businesses have benefitted from projects such as the implementation of a new I.T. system, creation of a company database, development and implementation of a marketing plan, building a new company website and launching a new product.

As Shell Step Co-ordinator for Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire, Wenta helps those companies wishing to take part to structure a project and clarify goals. Undergraduates with the right knowledge and skills are put forward for an interview and the successful applicant is taken on by the host company for eight weeks over the summer. Wenta will assist with selection and mentoring of participants, making the process even more time-efficient.

Out of last years participants, 96% of companies said Shell Step would have a positive impact on their future business performance. Having taking part in the scheme last year, Case Communications Managing Director Andrew Saoulis said of his student, “We were exceptionally lucky to be assigned Luke Varley, who exceeded our wildest expectations”. Luke went on to be awarded the title of ‘Most Enterprising Student’ in the Herts, Beds and Bucks Local Final.

Other recent host companies report that improvements developed by their Shell Step students will save them as much as £37,500 per year. What’s more, it only costs the company around £200 per week for the students’ weekly training allowance. This is free from National Insurance and tax contributions, ensuring a hassle free placement as there are no payroll issues. Companies can benefit from fresh, innovative ideas from a graduate calibre student, for a nominal cost.

The students who take part are in their second or penultimate year of study and previous students believe their employability has been greatly increased by the programme. 2007 Local Finalist, Emma Welland says “the Shell Step team at Wenta were very helpful and provided me with all the relevant information. I found the whole experience very useful to my future career”.

Peter Cabon and Aideen McNamara co-ordinate the Shell Step programme for Wenta and manage all aspects of the scheme. Peter and Aideen will interview all parties to ensure a good match between student and host organisation. The scheme is open to all public sector and charitable organisations as well as commercial operations, with less than 250 employees.

So if you’re running an existing business and need extra pair of hands, without the hassle of an employee, why not try out this scheme?

If you think the Shell Step programme could be of use to your business and want to find out more, or maybe you know of a business that you think could benefit, contact Peter or Aideen on 0845 371 0891 or email shellstep@wenta.co.uk.

Featured in The Hertfordshire Business Monthly - February 2008 Edition